Containing miscellaneous papers connected with the county the Black
Book of Kincardineshire is a rare
collection of accounts dating back to the 17th century which have never been surpassed.
I want to concentrate here on the documented criminal
trials within those pages. They are a wonderful source of names, places
and events.
Are your ancestors among those described. Dare you
look?....
16 August 1698 William Ross, in Gillen, apprehended for
stealing a sheep on the Sabbath-day, confessed the same, and was
ordained to be scourged through the Town, and his wife and bairns
banished the shire, and his goods escheat.
23 August 1698 William Falconer, elder, and William
Falconer, younger, in Nether Crigie, summoned to underly the law, for
breaking the oven of Glenbervie, and taking out thereof, a batch of
bread, consisting of the number of four score loaves. Failed to appear,
and were declared fugitives, and their goods escheat.
30 August 1698 Robert Balfour, Gardener, Crathes, was
summoned and not compearing to underly the law, for his cruelly,
unmercifully, mortally beating, blooding and wounding John Thom in
Drumshalloch, in his head, of the which he is lately dead, was declared
fugitive, and his haill goods escheat.
30 August 1698 Margaret Smith in Tanachay, in the parish
of Birse, daughter to the late Robert Smith, in Longholm, confessed that
she did break into the house of Peter Mathew, Kirktown of Fetteresso, on
two several nights, and did steal and take away out of the same, six
fourteen-shilling pieces and a ten-pence glass bottle, three linen
mutches, and two brow bands. Was ordained to be whipt through the town
of Stonehaven, burnt on the cheek, banished the shire, and her goods
escheat.
6 February 1699 Katherine Hampton, late servitor to
George Austine, and William Hampton her brother, apprehended by Magnus
Lichtone, at Sharps, imprisoned, and confessed that upon the 27th day of
January last, the said William Hampton went in at a window of the Lady
Urie's house in Springhall, and they both in the night time did steal
away a burden of clothes, napery and sheets, two tailzies of beef, stuff
petticoat and gown, and other things - all of which, her brother gave
her out. And that upon the 4th day of January last, they both did steal
out of the house of William Shepherd, in Findon, in the evening, several
pieces of plaiding, sheets, covering, and a servant's coat, with several
other small things; and that before that time he had stolen some fowls
out of the same house, and carried and sold them in Aberdeen. She
declared that she served David Milne in Fettercairn last winter, and
William Moris in Balmain - and that before that she served David Austin,
and kept his child; and had haunted the house of Margaret Fraser in
Spithill, from whom she got a pair of plaids. The Sheriff appointed the
boy to return to the school, and for the present dismissed him in
respect of his tender age, and his promising never to do the like again:
And ordained the said Katherine Hampton to be scourged through the town,
burnt on the shoulder, and to stand in the Jougs ane hour.
6 February 1699 Janet Forbes, relict of William Forbes
sometime in Bollabog in Cromar, and James Ross sometime at Balater,
thereafter about the Whitehouse, apprehended and imprisoned, and
confessed that upon the 2d day of February instant, they came to a kiln
barn above Banchory Devenick, and it being late, and every body in bed,
they pressed up the door, it being only fastened with a stone to the
back. And having lain in the kiln barn all night, in the morning they
took out about two pecks of malt out of sacks and departed - and denied
that they ever committed any other theft. The Sheriff ordained them to
be scourged through the town and banished the shire for ever.
9 February 1699 Alexander Hutcheon in Coldhams, James
and Robert Hutcheons in Wedderhillock, and John Webster in Kinearth,
summoned to underly the law for killing and slaying salmon fish on the
Sabbath-day. All fined.
21 February 1699 Elspet Mey, spouse to William Stewart
in Tarland, Jean Thow in Strachan, Margaret Gady in Nether Cheyne,
ordered by the Sheriff to be scourged through the town, burnt on the
cheek with the thief's mark, to stand in the Jougs for half an hour, and
banished forth this shire for ever, under the pain of death. In respect
that they the said Elspet May and Jean Thow did steal two sheep out of
the cot belonging to George Thomson; and Margaret Gady, that she did
receipt the said persons and sheep to conform to their confessions.
If you are related to any of the above I'd love to hear from
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